Chapter 4: Eyes on Us
Disclaimer: You know the drill. Blah blah blah Cassandra Clare blah blah blah Infernal Devices and Mortal Instruments blah.
Thank you to my more than fantastic beta, Jillessa Heronstairs! She got this back to me in a snap and made it so much better! Also, check out her stories! They are fantasmicabulous! (Minus that stupid bunny. I hate bunnies.)
Also, thank you to my favorite reviewer. You know who you are. (Because you are my only reviewer...)
Please review and try to top Jillessa! (I know that's not her name, but that is what I have started calling her in my mind and it stuck)
My sleep is filled with nightmares. Horrible dreams where I have lost Will and my family. Normally, I know I am awake when I feel my worst. In dreams, you can be sad, happy, or afraid, but you can't feel sick like you do in real life.
When I am sick in my dreams, everything hurts like knives. When I am awake, I feel the pain tenfold, but numb. My knees, neck, and arms ache constantly, as if someone stuck metal in between the bone and the joint. My bones feel like they are grinding together, rubbing each other down in the most horrifying way possible. No knives. Just such severe discomfort, and the knowledge that I am not just sick, but miserable.
I sit up straight, eyes flying open, the remnants of my dream tearing away from my mind. A layer of sweat coats my forehead, and I realize that I am panting, gasping for oxygen, though the cool air of the room is all the surrounds me. Slowly, I blink sleep out of my eyes and stretch my legs out like a cat. No standing is required. I feel a groan slip out of my mouth and I freeze, terrified. If I wake anyone up, they will ask about why I was freaking out in my sleep. Why I was crying and begging for Will to help me. Why I was so feverish and pale.
If only I could get in the shower and eat breakfast before everyone, I will be successful. My normal burning throat and massive headache, like a bad hangover, I can't help but notice though hangovers aren't something I have commonly, hasn't come this time, so I start searching for an armrest to help me sit up. My hand hits something solid besides sheets and I use it to help me sit up, placing my weight on it.
"My hand was literally right there." A sleepy voice murmured, from next to me. "Why did you have to use my arm?" I feel myself grin, luckily in a much better mood than most of my sick days.
"Are you feeling better?" Will continued to speak, sitting up next to me and for the first time, I notice I am not, in fact, on the couch like I had thought, but in Will's room, curled in his covers with our legs tangled together.
"Yes, in fact I am." I smiled at him, drinking in the look of his messy hair and tired blue eyes that are only halfway open. "What time is it?" I ask, stretching out my arms before swinging my legs off of his bed.
"Does you feeling better have anything to do with the fact that the first day of school is today? And it's 5:30." He grumbled, waiting for me to get up so he could.
"No, Will, it doesn't. I just feel better today, though a little achy. I could seriously use a shower." I moaned and stood, stretching one last time before digging through Will's top dresser drawer. "Where on Earth did my white shirt go?" I already had out some jeans, but my favorite white shirt had disappeared. Will snorted with amusement.
"You mean the one you are wearing?" I look down to see myself still fully clothed in long pants and the very white shirt I wanted, though so wrinkled that it looked more like a towel than a clean shirt. "Do me a favor; wear one of mine." He said, smiling and crawling off the bed so that he could stand. From there, he strutted to his closet and pulled out a tighter, also white, button-up shirt like the ones my dad used to wear to work, though it is more fitted than them.
"Certainly not!" I scoffed, joining him, to look in the closet. "That would be way too loose on me! You know, we aren't that similar in size, Will." I looked at him, startled to see a serious look on his face.
"Certainly so!" He responded, grabbing my hand in his absentmindedly. "This one doesn't even button when I wear it. See?" Instead of putting in on himself like I expected, he threw it over my shoulders and forced me into it, only letting go of my hand for that. He swiftly buttoned it before I could protest. I turned to the mirror that was at the back of the closet.
"Fine... It looks good." I admitted, unbuttoning it, and throwing it over a chair near his desk. "I'm jumping in the shower. I will be back in five."
One Old Spice scented shower later, I emerged from the bathroom, though I refuse to get dressed until at least 6:30. Instead I wore sweatpants and no shirt. It was only 5:40 and I could hear snoring from the living room as well as Cecily's.
"Jem... In here!" Will whisper-shouts from the kitchen, his head peeking through the swinging door. I make sure to step where it won't creak as I make my way over to where he is standing.
"What is it?" I ask without hesitation. Most would have to stop and gawk at the Herondale kitchen, but I have practically lived here since I was 12, when my parents died, and am quite used to it.
The room is bigger than two average bedrooms combined and filled with shiny silver appliances that stood out against the black countertop and white cabinets. A shining chandelier suited for a dining room hangs over the island in the there, next to the stove, was Will. He had clearly showered, for water was trickling down the side of his face, from his wet hair, and he looked wide awake.
"Pancakes is what it is!" He exclaims joyfully, flipping something, probably a pancake, on the stovetop.
"What on Earth are you going on about now?" I ask jokingly, flinging my arms in the air in fake confusion.
"Shut up and help me make breakfast." He leans over and kisses me once on the mouth, tasting of minty toothpaste, before handing me a wooden spoon and a bowl. "I got the fakin' bacon." He grins peacefully and turns to get started on the soy bacon strips he already has out. Quietly, I cook the pancakes until they are a perfect golden brown and set out a bowl of fresh fruit.
"I know it's wrong and I'm a vegetarian, but I freaking love the way bacon smells." a muffled voice comes from the doorway.
"Fakin' Bacon." Will corrects, pointing a spoon at her like a mean teacher, scoliosis a disobedient child. "Completely vegan."
"Ew." Isabelle says, just entering. "Excuse me, Maia." She pushes past the half-asleep girl that was standing in the doorway. "Vegan anything is disgusting. Just say meatless or vegi or whatever. When you say vegan... Uch." She shuttering in fake horror, grabbing herself a plate and loading it with multiple pancakes and some fruit, but of course, no fake bacon.
"You're welcome." Will snorts, shaking his head rapidly, amazed that a girl like Isabelle could possibly eat that much.
"DO I SMELL BACON!?" I hear a rough voice calling from the hallway.
"It might be, Cecy!" Will shouts back, already loading a plate with bacon and pancakes, specially made for his sister.
"You guys are freaking awesome." She squealed, appearing in the door which Maia appeared to be asleep against. She kissed my cheek and then Will's before grabbing her plate and running out, loudly singing some song about a bacon famine. (A/N: The Bacon Song is by Tessa Violet check it out)
One by one, people piled into the kitchen, grabbed food, and left to the living room.
"That was delicious. Thanks, guys. I'm going to run home to get ready. I'll be back by seven." Alec smiled and left, Magnus winking at us and following him silently through the door.
Everyone else piled out, leaving me, Will, Ella, and Cecy to our own devices, though Ella hadn't even gotten up until a second ago, complaining about a lack of coffee. Will was organizing the bags on the table for everyone, putting them in some order.
"Not that I'm complaining," Will started, looking me up and down, "but I don't think that is what you want to wear on your first day of school. I personally like the whole 'shirtless' look, but I happen to know that the teachers don't appreciate it." He grinned, looking back to his bag that he was stuffing with binders and folders.
"Shut up, William." I laughed, swatting him on the head with a book that was lying on the chair next to me. "I'm going to get ready now." He chuckled and turned for a quick kiss, and who am I to deny my beautiful boyfriend? I pressed my lips to his for a moment before creeping to his room to change. I was down to my boxers when I realized I forgot my pants in the bathroom. I am such an airhead.
"Will!" I shouted, digging around for my shirt instead. "Can you bring me my pants from the bathroom, please?" I asked distantly, lost in his tiny closet, though it is surprisingly full of clothes.
"Got them. Knock-knock. I'm coming in." He peeked his head in first, his black hair falling in his face, making his blue eyes stand out even more. Electricity struck me, but I didn't have enough time to respond to it before he slammed the door shut and strutted forward, close enough to feel his breath as he continued. He dropped my black jeans on the dresser smoothly, and moved even closer, his scent overpowering me as I closed my eyes.
Suddenly, we were kissing. He was pushing me roughly, holding onto my hips and walking forwards, therefore making me move backwards with him. His mouth, soft and sweet on mine, presses hard against my lips, and I pull away, letting out a soft gasp, before curling my fingers around the back of his neck, playing with the thin strands of his hair.
"William." I whispered softly against his lips, clutching one of my hands on the back of his neck none top carefully; the other in his hair. He slammed me up against the cold window, my bare skin hitting the freezing cold glass, causing me to yelp in surprise, my words muffled against his mouth.
He took the entrance and I felt his tongue slide in my mouth, claiming dominance immediately. I gripped onto his neck tighter before wrapping one of my legs against his waist, pulling him even closer, if that's possible. He started running his hands up my bare chest, making me moan into the kiss and drop my leg so that I was standing again. He took the opportunity and broke the kiss, attacking my neck instead.
"Will... We... Uhh... We have... Mmmm... School, Will." I finally managed to get out, though I didn't let myself take my hands out of his hair, just yet. It feels too good, having him here with me, pressed against my body, without a care in the world, except for each other.
"Oh, no." He said suddenly, stepping back and sending me stumbling forward, gasping and shocked from the lack of warmth. His eyes stare away from me, and I slowly follow his gaze. "I think Tessa was watching."